Female North Carolina teacher sentenced to 3 years probation for sex with 17 year old student

Julie Miller Culbertson, 38, was formally sentenced to 3 years on sex offender probation yesterday for having a sexual relationship with a 17 year old high school student. In North Carolina, the regular AOC is 16, but teachers are prohibited from sex with students at any age, including 18 or over. Besides the probation, Culbertson was ordered to pay a $1000 fine, perform 200 community service hours, and she is permanently prohibited from working with students again.

The former East Henderson High School teacher started work as a health occupation teacher on October 8, 2004, teaching grades 10 through 12. According to Sheriff Rick Davis, the investigation into the relationship started May 2007, with a citizen’s tip. Culbertson resigned later that month, and she was arrested in front of school system headquarters. Davis said, “It appears that the abuse has been going on for several weeks prior to the arrest.”

According to Assistant District Attorney Beth Dierauf, Culbertson’s guilty plea occurred in July, when she served a month in jail before release in August. Her formal sentencing was yesterday in Chief Resident Superior Court Judge Mark Powell’s courtroom.

Though the 17 year old victim wasn’t there, her father, a Hendersonville police officer, lamented the fact that as a law enforcement official, he protected others but could not stop his daughter’s molestation.

“It’s a shame that in my 24 years in law enforcement I have protected strangers, and I couldn’t even protect my own daughter,” he said while sobbing.

Culbertson was remorseful about the incident and addressed the court and the victim’s family.

“There are no words to express the pain I have caused my family and the victim’s family,” she said. “My actions did not come from a predatory intent, but were wrong.”

Culbertson’s attorney, Roy Neill, said that he believed his clients actions were due to a change in medication at the time of the incident.

“Julie is college educated and has no criminal record,” Neill said. “She has been married for 16 years and has two young children herself. There is still no excuse for this.”

Judge Powell, while sentencing, denounced Culbertson’s conduct.

“Every person is terribly flawed, I am too. If I could send you to prison I would. Be careful about this situation. People know about it and will be quick to accuse you.”

A quote from Mediaskeptic, of Teachers & Trash Education is below:

She pleaded to the felony charge which gives her a criminal record for the rest of her life.It also means she'll never teach anywhere. Ever again. And it is likely that she will find professional employment difficult, if not impossible.The bonus was that the victim did not have to testify, which, from a parent's point of view, is a good thing.Those are things that the victim, the victim's family and the prosecutor consider when determining charges.